A veterinary personnel places coloured plastic chain around a dog’s neck to indicate that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies.

SIBU: A total of 611 dogs received vaccination for rabies during the free mass programme at Tiong Hua Road market here yesterday.

The exercise, which commenced at 9am, was supposed to end at 4pm but was extended by half-hour due to overwhelming response.

It is learnt that dogs were owned by 341 people.

Councillor Robert Lau, who is assisting Sibu Rabies Control Working Committee, described the higher number of dogs getting vaccination as ‘a good sign’.

For the record, the committee is headed by Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee.

“Awareness of rabies prevention among members of the public is picking up. Still, I see lots of dogs yet to be vaccinated,” Lau told reporters at the programme’s venue, where political secretary to chief minister Michael Tiang who is also Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth Central chief, SUPP Central deputy president Chieng Buong Toon and SUPP Bukit Assek Youth chief Joseph Chieng were present.

Lau called on all pet owners to make the effort to bring their dogs out for vaccination, pointing out that there is a mobile team to carry out vaccination at longhouses.

“However in the town areas, pet owners must make the effort to go to the vaccination centres, which are open over a couple of weeks.

“We cannot go door-to-door as logistically, this is not possible.

“The working committee is chaired by Dr Annuar, assisted by myself and Sibu Resident (Charles Siaw). We have a very active chat group and every day, we obtain updates and if there is any issue, we post it .”

Besides visiting the vaccination centre, Lau who is also SUPP Bawang Assan chairman said together with SUPP members, they visited the traders at the market.